SCE&G closes Lowcountry power plant

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Electric & Gas has closed one of its Lowcountry power plants.

The utility announced Wednesday that its Canadys Station near Walterboro stopped generating electricity last week. The coal-fired plant had been in service more than 50 years. Its closing is part of the company's efforts to reduce emissions.

There are three coal-fired units at the plant and one was retired late last year. SCE&G planned to convert the other two units to natural gas before finally retiring them in 2017. But after looking at the costs, it was decided to close the plant this year.